Today we are hosting MPs in courts across England and Wales to hear about the issues affecting the criminal justice system as part of our #JusticeNeedsJuries campaign. First stop Merthyr Tydfil👇

This #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, it's important to recognise that good wellbeing starts during pupillage. We're resharing this piece from Counsel Magazine, written by our current Young Barristers' Committee Chair Amelia Clegg and former Chair Lachlan Stewart.

In response to today's King's speech, Chair of the Bar Council Kirsty Brimelow KC has emphasised our opposition to restricting jury trials, called for more investment for the justice system and welcomed plans to reset UK-EU relations. Our full reaction ➡️ https://bit.ly/4wp4mUG

We’re calling on the UK Government to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. Kirsty Brimelow KC said: "The safety of lawyers is essential to the rule of law and a functioning liberal democracy." Read in full➡️ https://bit.ly/435L7SI

Last week our Chair @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social had a very constructive meeting with Sir Mark Rowley, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, covering violence against women & girls (including abuse through harmful practices), rape and serious sexual offence (RASSO) cases, delays pre-court and AI.

Anneli Howard KC closed our International collective redress conference by highlighting all the experience in the room, and thanking everyone for attending including the sponsors.

"If the government replaces proposals for judge-only trials with trials by a judge plus two magistrates we are out of the frying pan and into the fire." Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC's letter to the Times sets out why we're completely opposed to any restriction on jury trials⤵️ #JusticeNeedsJuries

Opening our International collective redress conference, The Hon. Mrs Justice Kelyn Bacon, President of the CAT said collective redress facilitates access to justice, enables efficiency and can support compliance. Its about making the civil justice system work for the many.

Chair of the Bar, @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social gives opening remarks at today's Ukraine law day. She explains the importance of our cross-border collaboration 4 years on from the start of the conflict.

Claire Davies KC has been elected as the Vice Chair of the Bar Council for 2027. She will join Heidi Stonecliffe KC, elected as Chair, and Lucinda Orr, re-elected as Treasurer, alongside Dame Maria Miller, Bar Commissioner for Conduct, as the officer team for 2027. ➡️ https://bit.ly/4cAVW4T

This excellent guide demystifies terms/ acronyms. Climate literacy is essential. How else for informed conversations? I am encouraging the Bar - across all jurisdictions- to engage/further engage.Estelle Dehon KC is co-chair of the Bar Council’s Nature and Climate panel. @thebarcouncil.bsky.social #

We’re launching our first Bar Council engagement survey to better understand barristers' views, needs and expectations of us in our role as a professional body. To ensure you receive our survey, check your preferences in MyBar (instructions in image). www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/about-...

We're looking for chambers to support the next generation of barristers and host students from underrepresented backgrounds to give them insight into life at the Bar. If you're interested in hosting students as part of our Bar Placement Scheme, please complete the form: https://bit.ly/4tpeiM2

Today our Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC will be out on the Western Circuit to speak with barristers and chambers professionals but first on the agenda is a stop at this year's conference of the Association of Law Teachers. Kirsty opened with a keynote address on freedom, law, power and social justice.

In a joint opinion piece for the Telegraph, our Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC and Labour MP Charlotte Nichols set out – from the Bar’s perspective and victims’ perspective – why the government’s proposals to curtail jury trials won’t work. Read the full op-ed ➡️ https://bit.ly/3OIhvaq

Join us on 8 May for the International Collective Redress Conference, organised by The Bar Council of England and Wales (@thebarcouncil.bsky.social) in partnership with the Centre of European Law. Read the programme ⬇️ www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-eve... Book⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/internatio...

Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC opens the #BarCouncil meeting with "record attendance" online and in person, as Sir Brian Leveson is our guest speaker tonight.

Founding head of Doughty Street Chambers Geoffrey Robertson KC has written a polemical attack on the government's proposals to restrict jury trials through the Courts and Tribunals Bill, which begins committee stage scrutiny this week. Read more: www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/jur...

Watch our Chair @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social explain to MPs why the government needs to focus on what's really causing delays in rape and sexual offence cases. The Bar knows operationally what works - and what doesn't - because barristers are in court every day. #JusticeNeedsJuries

Welcome to your March wellbeing spotlight, focused on bringing you news, events, thoughts and support from across the Bar and further afield ➡️ https://bit.ly/4bUzPow

The government's plan to bring down the Crown Court backlog by pushing cases into the magistrates’ court and restricting jury trials is high risk. Data shows that the magistrates' court backlog is now at a record of high of 379,437 cases – 70% higher than in 2019. Read more https://bit.ly/47uV2UG

Tune in 📺 Today Bar leaders will be giving evidence on the Courts and Tribunals Bill to the Public Bill Committee in Parliament from 2pm. Watch live via https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/04abf820-565d-4fa3-86d7-384dce863511 #JusticeNeedsJuries

It's silks day! Huge congratulations to all the barristers and clerks celebrating today. Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC attended the ceremony at Westminster Hall to celebrate with all those being sworn in as King's Counsel by the Lord Chancellor. @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

This #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek we have published our new neurodiversity guide. It's full of advice for chambers and neurodivergent barristers, pupils and aspiring barristers, including what support you can expect. Read the guide: https://bit.ly/4bGSrZ7

Join us on 8 May for the International Collective Redress Conference, organised by The Bar Council of England and Wales (@thebarcouncil.bsky.social) in partnership with the Centre of European Law. Read the programme ⬇️ www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-eve... Book⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/internatio...

Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, has said that judge-only hearings could threaten the security of judges. #JusticeNeedsJuries https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lammy-jury-trials-judges-security-courts-baroness-carr-b2940054.html

"What is Parkinson's? Will I have to stop working as a barrister?" These are just some of the questions barrister Colin Wells asked when he was diagnosed in 2017. In this blog Colin discusses how his diagnosis has impacted his working life & how he has continued practising️ https://bit.ly/4lswLnW

We heard in the debate on juries this week that MPs really value visiting their local Crown Courts to hear directly from barristers about what’s happening in the criminal justice system. #JusticeNeedsJuries

More than 300 KCs and 22 retired judges are among the 3,236 legal professionals who have signed our letter calling on the Prime Minister to stop the government's jury trial proposal ahead of a parliamentary debate on new legislation to restrict jury trials today.🧵

Day 2 on our excellent Northern Circuit visit - today we were in Preston, kindly hosted by Julie Taylor at 15 Winckley Square Chambers. Chair of the Bar @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social and Chair of the Young Barristers' Committee Amelia Clegg met with senior judges at Preston Combined Court.

Barristers repeatedly tell us that significant delays are caused by the late delivery of individuals in custody to the court room. If you experience a delay, please tell us about it so we can demonstrate the impact to HMCTS and the Ministry of Justice: https://bit.ly/4lcqkoX

Fantastic first day on our visit to the Northern Circuit hosted by Circuit Leader Samantha Hillas KC and Circuit Junior Isabella Denn-White. In the morning Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC met with HHJ Wood, Designated Civil Judge for Cheshire and Merseyside.

We have postponed our upcoming Dubai event and encourage UK lawyers in the Middle East to register with the FCDO and follow the travel advice for the country, the advice of the local authorities and from the relevant British embassy or consulate. www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/mid...

For #IWD, Commissioner for Conduct Dame Maria Miller will be discussing ending sexism, sexual harassment and violence against women in the legal and medical professions. The BMA's Women in Academic Medicine group webinar will spotlight the systemic issues experienced across both professions.

It's time to celebrate the incredible work of legal aid lawyers. We're proud to sponsor the Legal Aid Barrister of the Year award in the 2026 LALYs. Get your nominations in by Tuesday 21 April ⤵️

Authorisation to practise is now open. During this process you can subscribe to the Bar Representation Fee to support our work and gain access to money-saving benefits. Find out more: www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/bar-re...

The Bar Council is aware that barristers are working in the UAE. The FCDO has published advice including 'register your presence abroad' and 4 Stone Buildings is coordinating requests and queries. The Bar Council offers support to barristers alongside chambers. www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/uae...

⏰ Help us send a strong message to the government to ask them to rethink the approach to juries. Sign your name by 9am tomorrow, Mon 2nd March ➡️ https://bit.ly/4kMn9DX Thank you for your support. #JusticeNeedsJuries

Meet this year's YBC Chair, employed barrister Amelia Clegg. She has shared her three committee priorities for 2026 in the latest edition of Counsel Magazine ➡️ https://bit.ly/3OPtxOZ

Legal professionals - you still have time to sign our open letter to the Prime Minister on jury reforms. We’re planning to send the letter to the PM soon - you have until Sunday 1 March to add your signature. Sign your name now: www.barcouncil.org.uk/media-campai... Thank you. #JusticeNeedsJuries

We're encouraged that the government has announced investment in the criminal courts that will allow courts to run at maximum capacity next year. However we continue to oppose the government’s proposed restriction of jury trials because #JusticeNeedsJuries Read our statement: https://bit.ly/4rB2wNT

"We cannot have trials without judges, but we cannot have justice without juries," writes Chris Henley KC. In this article from this month's Counsel magazine, Chris Henley KC explains why replacing trial by jury with judge-only trials risks undermining justice ⤵️ https://bit.ly/4cadp4i

Barristers, solicitors, retired judges, and other legal professionals - add your name to our open letter to the Prime Minister to oppose the government's plan to restrict jury trials. Sign your name ➡️ bit.ly/4kMn9DX #JusticeNeedsJuries

This new article from the Times explores how Crown Courts like Liverpool have shown that efficiencies and investment of time and resources do reduce the backlog without the need to reduce jury trials. This is why we continue to argue that #JusticeNeedsJuries⤵️ bit.ly/4roKezg

Barristers from across England and Wales have shared the impact of individuals being delivered late to court by the Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (PECS).

Bar Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC hits out at Labour’s plans to reform jury trials, warning they won’t stop the court backlogs and undermine the safeguards built over hundreds of years. Read more in The Telegraph today www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202... @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

Today Chair of the Bar Council, Kirsty Brimelow KC, met with Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, David Lammy MP, and Justice Minister Sarah Sackman MP. They discussed the justice system, criminal court reform proposals and the workforce. @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

Please write to your local MP to voice your concern on the government's plan to restrict jury trials. Our updated template letter now includes the latest data from the Institute for Government and our response to Part 2 of Sir Brian Leveson’s report. Download the letter: https://bit.ly/4bKjRPs

Talk to Spot is a secure online tool to support anyone working at and around the Bar to confidentially raise concerns about inappropriate or abusive behaviours. Find out more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4prP7qk

Good morning indeed! We are in full flow and our Chair is outlining the full programme of work being done for barristers. Note for diary: 14 November 2026 is Bar Conference! And a heads up from me as Chair of the Law Reform Committee is that our annual lecture will be held on 2 July. More to follow.